Supporting device, notably mattress, mattress support or for a seat

ABSTRACT

Supporting device, notably mattress, mattress support or supporting device for seats, comprising several elements comprising flexible fluid-holding chambers aligned vertically and assembled in a network so as to form a structure enabling a body to rest. The pressure in each fluid-holding chamber is transmitted insider first conduits ( 4 ) coming out of said chamber. The first conduits communicate this pressure to the fluid-holding chambers of the neighboring elements.

This application is a continuation of PCT application No. PCT/CH01/00331filed May 28, 2001 under Swiss priority, the content of which is herebyincorporated.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns mattresses, mattress supports for beds orseats, comprising a group of fluid-holding chambers that communicatetheir pressure.

RELATED ART

In order to find a solution to the comfort inconveniences of traditionalmattresses (latex, springs, foam) and of water mattresses, severalconstructions of fluid-holding beds have been attempted.

None meets fully the requirements of ease of assembly, advancedmodularity, reduced space requirement, flexibility, hygiene and comfort.

It is an aim of the present invention to propose a mattress or mattresssupport for beds or seats that avoids the inconveniences of the priorart mattresses.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, this aim is achieved in particularthrough the characteristics of the independent claims. Furtheradvantageous embodiments are moreover described in the dependent claimsand in the description.

In particular, this aim is achieved by means of a mattress or mattresssupport for beds or seats comprising a group of fluid-holding chambersthat transmit their pressure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood by reading the description of apreferred embodiment given by way of example and illustrated by theattached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a cross section of two elements of the network with arepresentation of the water and air-circuits.

FIG. 2 shows the assembly of the device.

FIG. 3 illustrates the flexibility of the device.

FIG. 4 shows a body resting on the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates the principle of the invention.

The device of the invention consists of a group of elements whosearrangement in a grid network forms a supporting device, notably amattress, mattress support or seating device. Each element is composedof a bloc (1), whose lateral sides have openings enabling it tocommunicate with neighboring elements by means of flexible conduits (4),and, on its upper part, of a double flexible wall forming a doublevertical cylindrical chamber (2), shown here bulging and filled with alight foam in order to retain a vertical position by default whilstexerting a force that is barely perceptible by the body.

The device comprises first a fluids circuit (A), isolated from externalpressure and supporting the weight of a body. An air stream (B) diffusesat the upper extremities of the chambers and is capable of being fed bya ventilation (5).

Each flexible chamber transmits a small part of the body's weight to thefluid contained in the chambers of the neighboring elements. The fluidis put under pressure and this force is transmitted further to the otherchambers through the conduits, so as to enable the pressure to be spreadwithout zones of peaks or hollows on the body, as shown in FIG. 4.

The epidermal compression is diminished by the use of a padding (3) verypermeable to air and placed on the upper part of each element.

Comfort is further increased by the air stream whose temperature andintensity are controlled by an adaptable ventilation (5).

The fluid's initial pressure is regulated by a pump (6) by means of agauge (7) so that the body sinks as much as possible into the network ofelements, thus minimizing the epidermal compression.

In order to simplify the description, the flexible conduits (4) havebeen superimposed in FIG. 1. In a variant embodiment of the invention, abetter flexibility of adjustable mattresses or seat structures isachieved with juxtaposed flexible conduits as shown in FIG. 2.

It is also possible to conceive a double wall that can be folded in themanner of an accordion or of bellows, or that can be associated with arigid and telescopic mechanism enabling a vertical guiding.

In another embodiment of the invention, air is used in the fluidscircuit (A). If tightness to air or water is not an issue, it ispossible to contemplate a communication between the two circuits. Thissolution enables the ventilator, air pump and gauge to be centralized.

The present invention has the following advantages:

1. Ease of assembly and modularity: the elements are assembled asindicated in FIG. 2, by putting together the blocs by means of theconduits (4). As illustrated in FIG. 2, each element, when placed on thesides or corners of the device, does not require any additional part toensure the air or water tightness of its outer sides. If the network isused as a mattress, the dismantled device is lighter and requires lessspace than a traditional mattress of the same size. It can bedisassembled and reassembled equally well on a bed of other dimensionsas long as the available number of elements covers its surface. Theflexible chambers require much less space than known jack solutions.

2. Flexibility: the network's design makes it suitable for being used onadjustable mattress supports. FIG. 3 illustrates the profile of themattress capable of adapting to an adjustable mattress support.

3. Hygiene and comfort: the air circulation at the upper extremities ofthe cylindrical chambers promotes the evaporation of any perspiration,which ensures a better respiration of the body parts in contacttherewith. The possibility of modifying the temperature of the aircircuit constitutes a certain advantage. Since it can be fullydismantled, the device can be entirely sterilized.

What is claimed is:
 1. Supporting device, notably mattress, mattresssupport or supporting device for seats comprising several elementscomprising flexible fluid-holding chambers aligned vertically alongtheir respective longitudinal axes and assembled in a network so as toform a structure enabling a body to rest, the pressure in eachfluid-holding chamber being transmitted inside first conduits coming outfrom said chamber, the first conduits communicating this pressure to theneighboring fluid-holding chambers, the fluid-holding chambers and thefirst conduits forming a fluids circuit, wherein an air streamindependent from said fluids circuit acts on the upper extremity of eachfluid-holding chamber meant to come into contact with the body.
 2. Thesupporting device of claim 1, wherein said elements can be assembled andtransported separately.
 3. The supporting device of claim 1, whereinsaid first conduits come out from the base of said chambers andpenetrate into the openings made in the walls of the neighboringchambers, so as to allow the pressure to spread without zones of peaksor hollows on the resting body.
 4. The supporting device of claim 1,wherein said air stream is channeled inside the elements to come out onthe upper extremity of each fluid-holding chamber.
 5. The supportingdevice of claim 3, wherein a padding permeable to air is placed on theupper extremity of each fluid-holding chamber.
 6. The supporting deviceof claim 1, wherein second conduits enable the air stream to pass fromone element to another.
 7. The supporting device of claim 1, wherein thepressure of the fluid inside the chambers is controlled and regulated bymeans of a pressure controlling and regulating device.
 8. The supportingdevice of claim 1, comprising means for regulating the intensity andtemperature of said air stream.
 9. The supporting device of claim 1,wherein at least one of said fluid-holding chambers is filled with foamdesigned to ensure a vertical hold whatever the fluid's pressure. 10.The supporting device of claim 1, wherein at least one of saidfluid-holding chambers comprise folds on their lateral sides designed toensure a vertical hold and a folding possibility.
 11. The supportingdevice of claim 1, wherein at least one wall of at least some of saidfluid-holding chambers is coupled to a rigid and telescopic mechanismensuring a vertical guiding of said chambers.
 12. The supporting deviceof claim 1, wherein said first conduit is flexible.
 13. The supportingdevice of one of the claims 1 to 3 and 4 to 12, further comprising meansfor ensuring the air and water tightness of its outer of at least one ofsaid fluid-holding chambers when it is placed on a side or in a cornerof said device, said means comprising no additional removable part. 14.The supporting device of claim 1, wherein said second conduit isflexible.
 15. Element designed to be aligned vertically along alongitudinal axis thereof and assembled in a network so as to form astructure enabling a body to rest, comprising: a vertically alignedflexible fluid-holding chamber, at least a first conduit coming out ofsaid fluid-holding chamber and to which the pressure in said chamber istransmitted, an air circuit independent from said fluid-holding chamberand acting on the upper extremity of each fluid-holding chamber.
 16. Theelement of claim 15, wherein said air circuit is channeled inside theelement to come out on the upper extremity of each fluid-holdingchamber.
 17. The element of claim 16, wherein a padding permeable to airis placed on the upper extremity of said fluid-holding chamber.
 18. Theelement of claim 15, comprising at least a second conduit enabling theair stream to pass to another element.
 19. The element of claim 15, saidfluid-holding chamber being at least partially filled with foam.
 20. Theelement of claim 15, said fluid-holding chamber comprising folds on itslateral sides designed to ensure a vertical hold and a foldingpossibility.
 21. The element of claim 15, at least one wall of saidfluid-holding chamber being coupled to a rigid and telescopic mechanismensuring a vertical guiding.
 22. The element of claim 15, wherein saidfirst conduit is flexible.
 23. The supporting device of claim 18,wherein said second conduit is flexible.